Disk device

ABSTRACT

The disc apparatus according to the present invention comprises a base member ( 130 ), a chassis ( 140 ) pivotable with respect to the base member ( 130 ), a pickup unit ( 160 ) movably supported by the chassis ( 140 ) to be accessible to a disc, and a guide shaft ( 180 ) contactable with the pickup unit ( 160 ) to guide the pickup unit ( 160 ), and in which the guide unit ( 180 ) includes an end portion ( 180   a ) selectively assuming two operation positions including a contact position in which the end portion ( 180   a ) is brought into contact with the chassis ( 140 ) and a noncontact position in which the end portion ( 180   a ) is brought out of contact from the chassis ( 140 ), and the guide unit ( 180 ) is pivotable around an axis ( 181 ) extending in a direction ( 130   a ) substantially perpendicular to a moving direction ( 160   a ) in which the pickup unit ( 160 ) is movable with respect to the chassis ( 140 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disc apparatus having accommodatedtherein a plurality of disc shaped recording mediums and operative tocarry out at least one of operations to record information on andreproduce information from the disc shaped recording mediums.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

As an example of a disc apparatus having accommodated therein aplurality of disc shaped recording mediums and operative to carry out atleast one of operations to record information on and reproduceinformation from the disc shaped recording medium, there have been knowna disc apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open publicationNo. 2002-109810.

The conventional disc apparatus 900 therein disclosed is shown in FIG. 8as comprising a housing 910, a tray portion 920 accommodated in thehousing 910 and having a plurality of trays 921 which are movablystacked with one another along a laying direction, a tray opening andclosing means, not shown, for selectively opening and closing a slotbetween predetermined adjoining trays 921, a base member 930accommodated in the housing 910, and a chassis 940 supported by the basemember 930 to be pivotable around an axis 941 in a direction designatedby an arrow 941 a.

The conventional disc apparatus 900 further comprises a turntable 950rotatably supported by the chassis 940 to retain a disc 990, a pickupunit 960 supported by the chassis 940 to be movable in a directiondesignated by an arrow 960 a substantially perpendicular to a directionin which an axis 941 of the chassis 940 extends and to be accessible tothe disc 990 retained by the turntable 950, a lead screw 970 supportedby the chassis 940 to drive the pickup unit 960, and a guide shaft 980supported by the chassis 940 to be contactable with the pickup unit 960to guide the pickup unit 960. Here, the guide shaft 980 is supported bythe chassis 940 to be pivotable around an axis 981 designated by anarrow 981 a.

The following description will be directed to the operation of theconventional disc apparatus 900 thus constructed as previouslymentioned.

Firstly, the tray opening and closing means is operated to open a slotbetween predetermined adjoining trays 921. The chassis 940 is thenpivoted around the axis 941 in the direction designated by an arrow 941a from a position shown in FIG. 9 to a position shown in FIG. 8 and theguide shaft 980 is pivoted around the axis 981 in a direction designatedby the arrow 981 a from a position shown in FIG. 9 to a position shownin FIG. 8 to have the chassis 940 inserted into the slot between thepredetermined adjoining trays 921 and the turntable 950 retain the disc990 mounted on the trays 921. Under these conditions, the conventionaldisc apparatus 900 is operated to rotate the turntable 950 having thedisc 990 mounted thereon while having the lead screw 970 and the guideshaft 980 move the pickup unit 960 with respect to the chassis 940 inthe direction designated by the arrow 960 a to carry out at least one ofoperations to record information on and reproduce information from thedisc 990.

Further, the conventional disc apparatus 900 is operative to have thechassis 940, the turntable 950, the pickup unit 960, lead screw 970, andthe guide shaft 980 moved to be stationary held in a position where thechassis 940, the turntable 950, the pickup unit 960, lead screw 970, andthe guide shaft 980 are prevented from colliding with the disc 990mounted on the trays 921 when the tray opening and closing means opensthe slot between the predetermined adjoining trays 921 as clearly seenfrom FIG. 9.

The conventional disc apparatus 900, however, encounters such a drawbackthat a minimum distance 900 b required to have the trays 921 and thechassis 940 accommodated in the housing 910 is predominantly determinedby a distance 900 a between the lead screw 970 and the guide shaft 980thereby limiting the possibility of downsizing the conventional discapparatus 900 as a whole, resulting from the fact that the guide shaft980 is stationary held in a position between the disc 990 mounted on thetrays 921 and the lead screw 970 as shown in FIG. 9.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a discapparatus which is small in size in comparison with the conventionaldisc apparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance wit a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus comprising: a base member; a chassis movablewith respect to the base member; a pickup unit movably supported by thechassis to be accessible to a disc; and a guide unit contactable withthe pickup unit to guide the pickup unit, and in which the guide unitincludes an end portion selectively assuming two operation positionsincluding a contact position in which the end portion is brought intocontact with the chassis and a noncontact position in which the endportion is brought out of contact from the chassis, the guide unit beingpivotable around an axis extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a moving direction in which the pickup unit is movablewith respect to the chassis.

The disc apparatus according to the present invention thus constructedas previously mentioned can have trays and other constituent partsaccommodated in a space defined between the chassis and the guide shaftwhile the chassis and the guide shaft are open, resulting from the factthat the chassis and the guide shaft are respectively pivotable to havethe end portion forming part of the guide shaft selectively assume twooperation positions including a contact position in which the endportion is brought into contact with the chassis and a noncontactposition in which the end portion is brought out of contact from thechassis. This leads to the fact that a minimum distance required to havethe trays and other constituent parts disposed between the chassis andthe guide shaft can be reduced in comparison with the conventional discapparatus, thereby making it possible for the disc apparatus to be smallin size in comparison with the conventional disc apparatus.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus, in which the aforementioned guide unit isheld in engagement with the chassis to be pivotable in combination withthe chassis moving with respect to the base member.

The disc apparatus according to the present invention thus constructedas previously mentioned can have the chassis pivot with respect to thebase member as well as have the guide unit pivot with respect to thechassis with a single motor unit. This leads to the fact that the discapparatus can be small in size in comparison with the conventional discapparatus, which comprises a first motor unit for having the chassispivot with respect to the base member and a second motor unit for havingthe guide unit pivot with respect to the chassis.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus comprising: a base member; a chassis pivotablysupported by the base member; a turntable rotatably supported by thechassis to rotate a disc; a pickup unit movably supported by the chassisto be accessible to the disc; a lead screw supported by the chassis todrive the pickup unit; and a guide unit contactable with the pickup unitto guide the pickup unit, and in which the guide unit includes an axisextending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a movingdirection in which the pickup unit is movable with respect to thechassis, the guide unit being supported by the chassis to be pivotablearound the axis and movable in combination with the chassis pivotingwith respect to the base member to be held in engagement with thechassis.

The disc apparatus according to the present invention thus constructedas previously mentioned can have trays and other constituent partsaccommodated in a space defined between the chassis and the guide shaftwhile the chassis and the guide shaft are open, resulting from the factthat the chassis and the guide shaft are respectively pivotable to havethe end portion forming part of the guide shaft selectively assume twooperation positions including a contact position in which the endportion is brought into contact with the chassis and a noncontactposition in which the end portion is brought out of contact from thechassis. This leads to the fact that a minimum distance required to havethe trays and other constituent parts disposed between the chassis andthe guide shaft can be reduced in comparison with the conventional discapparatus, thereby making it possible for the disc apparatus to be smallin size in comparison with the conventional disc apparatus.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus, which further comprises: a motor unit forhaving the chassis pivot with respect to the base member, and in whichthe guide unit further includes a pin selectively assuming two operationpositions including a contact position in which the pin is brought intocontact with the chassis and a noncontact position in which the pin isbrought out of contact from the chassis, the base member includes a camgroove portion engageable with the pin, the guide unit is pivotable withrespect to the base member to have the end portion move toward thechassis under the condition that the chassis pivots with respect to thebase member toward the end portion forming part of the guide unit, andthe guide unit is pivotable with respect to the base member to have theend portion move away from the chassis under the condition that thechassis pivots with respect to the base member away from the end portionforming part of the guide unit.

The disc apparatus according to the present invention thus constructedas previously mentioned can have the chassis pivot with respect to thebase member as well as have the guide unit pivot with respect to thechassis with a single motor unit. This leads to the fact that the discapparatus can be small in size in comparison with the conventional discapparatus, which comprises a first motor unit for having the chassispivot with respect to the base member and a second motor unit for havingthe guide unit pivot with respect to the chassis.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus comprising: a base member; a chassis pivotablysupported by the base member; a turntable rotatably supported by thechassis to rotate a disc; a pickup unit movably supported by the chassisto be accessible to the disc; a lead screw supported by the chassis todrive the pickup unit; and a guide unit contactable with the pickup unitto guide the pickup unit, and in which the guide unit includes an axisextending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a movingdirection in which the pickup unit is movable with respect to thechassis, the guide unit being supported by the base member to bepivotable around the axis and pivotable independently from the chassispivoting with respect to the base member to be held in engagement withthe chassis.

The disc apparatus according to the present invention thus constructedas previously mentioned can have trays and other constituent partsaccommodated in a space defined between the chassis and the guide shaftwhile the chassis and the guide shaft are open, resulting from the factthat the chassis and the guide shaft are respectively pivotable to havethe end portion forming part of the guide shaft selectively assume twooperation positions including a contact position in which the endportion is brought into contact with the chassis and a noncontactposition in which the end portion is brought out of contact from thechassis. This leads to the fact that a minimum distance required to havethe trays and other constituent parts disposed between the chassis andthe guide shaft can be reduced in comparison with the conventional discapparatus, thereby making it possible for the disc apparatus to be smallin size in comparison with the conventional disc apparatus.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus, which further comprises: a motor unit forhaving the chassis pivot with respect to the base member; and a motorunit for having the guide unit pivot with respect to the chassis, and inwhich the guide unit further includes an end portion selectivelyassuming two operation positions including a contact position in whichthe end portion is brought into contact with the chassis and anoncontact position in which the end portion is brought out of contactfrom the chassis, the guide unit is pivotable with respect to the basemember to have the end portion move toward the chassis under thecondition that the chassis pivots with respect to the base member towardthe end portion forming part of the guide unit, and the guide unit ispivotable with respect to the base member to have the end portion moveaway from the chassis under the condition that the chassis pivots withrespect to the base member away from the end portion forming part of theguide unit.

In the disc apparatus according to the present invention thusconstructed as previously mentioned, the chassis can be pivoted withrespect to the base member independently from how the guide unit ispivoted with respect to the chassis.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus comprising: a base member; a chassis movablysupported by the base member; a turntable rotatably supported by thechassis to rotate a disc; a pickup unit movably supported by the chassisto be accessible to the disc held by the turntable; a lead screwsupported by the chassis to drive the pickup unit; and a guide unitcontactable with the pickup unit to guide the pickup unit, and in whichthe guide unit includes an axis extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a moving direction in which the pickup unit is movablewith respect to the chassis, the guide unit being supported by thechassis to be pivotable around the axis and movable in combination withthe chassis pivoting with respect to the base member to be held inengagement with the chassis.

The disc apparatus according to the present invention thus constructedas previously mentioned can have trays and other constituent partsaccommodated in a space defined between the chassis and the guide shaftwhile the chassis and the guide shaft are open, resulting from the factthat the chassis and the guide shaft are respectively pivotable to havethe end portion forming part of the guide shaft selectively assume twooperation positions including a contact position in which the endportion is brought into contact with the chassis and a noncontactposition in which the end portion is brought out of contact from thechassis. This leads to the fact that a minimum distance required to havethe trays and other constituent parts disposed between the chassis andthe guide shaft can be reduced in comparison with the conventional discapparatus, thereby making it possible for the disc apparatus to be smallin size in comparison with the conventional disc apparatus.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a disc apparatus, which further comprises: a motor unit forhaving the chassis move with respect to the base member; and a motorunit for having the guide unit pivot with respect to the chassis, and inwhich the guide unit further includes an end portion selectivelyassuming two operation positions including a contact position in whichthe end portion is brought into contact with the chassis and anoncontact position in which the end portion is brought out of contactfrom the chassis, the guide unit is pivotable with respect to the basemember to have the end portion move toward the chassis under thecondition that the chassis moves with respect to the base member towardthe end portion forming part of the guide unit, and the guide unit ispivotable with respect to the base member to have the end portion moveaway from the chassis under the condition that the chassis moves withrespect to the base member away from the end portion forming part of theguide unit.

In the disc apparatus according to the present invention thusconstructed as previously mentioned, the chassis can be pivoted withrespect to the base member independently from how the guide unit ispivoted with respect to the chassis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of a disc apparatus according to the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional top view of a preferred embodiment of a discapparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the disc apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional top view of the disc apparatus shown in FIG.1, but in a state different from that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional top view of another example of the discapparatus different from the disc apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional top view of the disc apparatus shown in FIG.4, but in a state different from that shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional top view of another example of the discapparatus different from the disc apparatuses shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional top view of the disc apparatus shown in FIG.6, but in a state different from that shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional top view of the conventional disc apparatus;and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional top view of the conventional disc apparatusshown in FIG. 8, but in a state different that shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the disc apparatus according to the presentinvention will be described hereinafter in accordance with theaccompanying drawings, in particular FIGS. 1 to 7.

The following description will now be directed to the construction ofthe preferred embodiment of the disc apparatus according to the presentinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the disc apparatus 100 comprises a housing110, a tray portion 120 accommodated in the housing 110 and having aplurality of trays 121 which are movably stacked with one another alonga laying direction, a tray opening and closing means, not shown, forselectively opening and closing a slot between predetermined adjoiningtrays 121, a base member 130 accommodated in the housing 110 and movablewith respect to the housing 110 in a direction designated by an arrow130 a, and a chassis 140 supported by the base member 130 to bepivotable around an axis 141 in a direction designated by an arrow 141 aor an arrow 141 b.

The disc apparatus 100 further comprises a turntable 150 rotatablysupported by the chassis 140 to retain a disc 190, and a pickup unit 160supported by the chassis 140 to be movable in a direction designated byan arrow 160 a substantially perpendicular to a direction in which theaxis 141 of the chassis 140 extends and to be accessible to the disc 190retained by the turntable 150.

Here, the chassis 140 includes a retaining portion 142 for retaining thepickup unit 160 and the pickup unit 160 includes an engaging portion 161to be engageable with the retaining portion 142.

The disc apparatus 100 further comprises a lead screw 170 supported bythe chassis 140 to drive the pickup unit 160, and a guide unitconstituted by a guide shaft 180 contactable with the pickup unit 160 toguide the pickup unit 160.

Here, the guide shaft 180 includes an end portion 180 a selectivelyassuming two operation positions including a contact position in whichthe end portion 180 a is brought into contact with the chassis 140 and anoncontact position in which the end portion 180 a is brought out ofcontact from the chassis 140, and is supported by the chassis 140 to bepivotable with respect to the base member 130 around an axis 181extending in the direction 130 a substantially perpendicular to a movingdirection designated by an arrow 160 a, in which the pickup unit 160 ismovable with respect to the chassis 140, in a direction shown by anarrow 181 a or an arrow 181 b. This means that the chassis 140 and theguide shaft 180 are respectively pivotable to selectively assume one oftwo states including an open state in which the chassis 140 and theguide shaft 180 are open as shown in FIG. 3 and a close state in whichthe chassis 140 and the guide shaft 180 are closed as shown in FIG. 1.

The guide shaft 180 further includes a pin 182 and the base member 130includes a cam groove portion 131 engageable with the pin 182. The factthat the guide shaft 180 is supported by the chassis 140 to be pivotablearound the axis 181 and the fact that the pin 182 forming part of theguide shaft 180 is held in engagement with the cam groove portion 131formed in the base member 130 lead to the fact that the guide shaft 180is pivotable with respect to the base member 130 in a directiondesignated by an arrow 181 a to have the end portion 180 a move towardthe chassis 140 under the condition that the chassis 140 pivots withrespect to the base member 130 in a direction designated by an arrow 141a toward the end portion 180 a forming part of the guide shaft 180 andthe guide shaft 180 is pivotable with respect to the base member 130 ina direction designated by an arrow 181 b to have the end portion 180 amove away from the chassis 140 under the condition that the chassis 140pivots with respect to the base member 130 in a direction designated byan arrow 141 b away from the end portion 180 a forming part of the guideshaft 180. This means that the guide shaft 180 is held in engagementwith the base member 130 and the chassis 140 in such a manner that theguide shaft 180 is pivotable in combination with the chassis 140 movingwith respect to the base member 130.

The following description will then be directed to the operation of thepresent embodiment of the disc apparatus according to the presentinvention.

Firstly, in the disc apparatus 100, the base member 130 is moved withrespect to the housing 110 in the direction designated by the arrow 130a up to a predetermined position and the tray opening and closing meansis operated to open a slot between predetermined adjoining trays 121.The chassis 140 is then pivoted around the axis 141 with respect to thebase member 130 in the direction designated by the arrow 141 a from aposition shown in FIG. 3 to a position shown in FIG. 1 to have thechassis 140 inserted into the slot between the predetermined adjoiningtrays 121.

While the chassis 140 is pivoted with respect to the base member 130from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1, thepin 182 forming part of the guide shaft 180 is moved along the camgroove portion 131 from a position shown in FIG. 1 to a position shownin FIG. 3. This results in the fact that the guide shaft 180 is pivotedaround the axis 181 with respect to the chassis 140 in the directiondesignated by the arrow 181 a from a position shown in FIG. 3 to aposition shown in FIG. 1 to be engaged with the chassis 140 at the endportion 180 a and held in parallel relationship with the lead screw 170.

Then, the turntable 150 is operated to hold the disc 190 mounted on thetray 121. Under these conditions, the disc apparatus 100 is operated torotate the turntable 150 having the disc 190 mounted thereon whilehaving the lead screw 170 and the guide shaft 180 move the pickup unit160 with respect to the chassis 140 in the direction shown by the arrow160 a to carry out at least one of operations to record information onand reproduce information from the disc 190.

Further, in order to exchange or eject the disc 190 retained by theturntable 160, the disc apparatus 100 is operated to move the pickupunit 160 with respect to the chassis 140 in the direction designated bythe arrow 160 a until the engaging portion 161 forming part of thepickup unit 160 is held in engagement with the retaining portion 142forming part of the chassis 140 when, at least either one of the tray121 and the base member 130 is moved in the direction designated by thearrow 130 a with respect to the housing 110.

The disc apparatus 100 is then operated to have the chassis 140 pivotedwith respect to the base member 130 around the axis 141 in the directiondesignated by the arrow 141 b from a position shown in FIG. 1 to aposition shown in FIG. 3 to eject the chassis 140 from the slot betweenthe predetermined trays 121.

While the chassis 140 is pivoted with respect to the base member 130from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position show in FIG. 3, thepin 182 forming part of the guide shaft 180 is moved along the camgroove portion 131 formed in the base member 130 from a position shownin FIG. 1 to a position shown in FIG. 3. This results in the fact thatthe guide shaft 180 is pivoted with respect to the chassis 140 aroundthe axis 181 in the direction shown by the arrow 181 b from a positionshown in FIG. 1 to a position shown in FIG. 3 to be held in engagementwith the base member 130 at the end portion 180 a.

When the disc apparatus 100 is in a state as shown in FIG. 3, thechassis 140, the turntable 150, the pickup unit 160, lead screw 170, andthe guide shaft 180 can be prevented from colliding with the disc 190mounted on the trays 121 even through at least either one of the tray121 and the base member 130 is moved with respect to the housing 110 inthe direction designated by the arrow 130 a shown in FIG. 2.

As will be seen from the foregoing description, it will be understoodthat the trays 121 and other constituent parts can be accommodated in aspace defined between the chassis 140 and the guide shaft 180 while thechassis 140 and the guide shaft 180 are open, viz., the end portion 180a forming part of the guide shaft 180 assumes the noncontact position assshown in FIG. 3, resulting from the fact that the chassis 140 and theguide shaft 180 are respectively pivotable to have the end portion 180 aforming part of the guide shaft 180 selectively assume two operationpositions including a contact position in which the end portion 180 a isbrought into contact with the chassis 140 and a noncontact position inwhich the end portion 180 a is brought out of contact from the chassis140. This leads to the fact that a minimum distance 100 a required tohave the trays 121 and other constituent parts disposed between thechassis 140 and the guide shaft 180 can be reduced in comparison withthe conventional disc apparatus, thereby making it possible for the discapparatus 100 to be small in size in comparison with the conventionaldisc apparatus.

Further, the disc apparatus 100 according to the present invention canhave the chassis 140 pivot with respect to the base member 130 as wellas have the guide shaft 180 pivot with respect to the chassis 140 with asingle motor unit. This leads to the fact that the disc apparatus 100can be small in size in comparison with the conventional disc apparatus,which comprises a first motor unit for having the chassis 140 pivot withrespect to the base member 130 and a second motor unit for having theguide shaft 180 pivot with respect to the chassis 140, resulting fromthe fact that the guide shaft 180 is held in engagement with the basemember 130 and the chassis 140 to be pivotable in combination with thechassis 140 pivoting with respect to the base member 130.

The disc 190 mounted on the trays 121 can be in part accommodated in aspace between the turntable 150 and the pickup unit 160 resulting fromthe fact that the pickup unit 160 is disposed in the vicinity of theaxis 141 and spaced apart from the turntable 150 while the discapparatus 100 is in a state as shown in FIG. 3, as described in thepresent embodiment. This leads to the fact that the disc apparatus 100can be small in size in comparison with the conventional disc apparatus,in which the pickup unit 160 is disposed in the vicinity of theturntable 150 and spaced apart from the axis 141. It is, however,needless to mention that in the disc apparatus according to the presentinvention the pickup unit 160 may be disposed in the vicinity of theturntable 150 and spaced apart from the axis 141 while the discapparatus 100 is in a state as shown in FIG. 3, Though it has beendescribed in the present embodiment that the pickup unit 160 is disposedin the vicinity of the axis 141 and spaced apart from the turntable 150while the disc apparatus 100 is in a state as shown in FIG. 3.

Further, the disc apparatus according to the present invention mayfurther comprise a first motor unit for having the chassis 140 pivotwith respect to the base member 130 and a second motor unit for havingthe guide shaft 180 pivot with respect to the chassis 140 wherein thefirst motor unit is independent from the second motor unit. This meansthat the disc apparatus 100 may be replaced with, for example, a discapparatus 200, which will be described hereinlater with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5.

The disc apparatus 200 comprises a base member 230, a chassis 240supported by the base member 230 to be pivotable around an axis 241 in adirection designated by an arrow 241 a or an arrow 241 b, a turntable250 rotatably supported by the chassis 240 to retain a disc 290, apickup unit 260 movably supported by the chassis 240 to be accessible tothe disc 290, a lead screw 270 supported by the chassis 240 to drive thepickup unit 260, and a guide unit constituted by a guide shaft 280contactable with the pickup unit 260 to guide the pickup unit 260.

The guide shaft 280 further includes an end portion 280 a selectivelyassuming two operation positions including a contact position in whichthe end portion 280 a is brought into contact with the chassis 240 and anoncontact position in which the end portion 280 a is brought out ofcontact from the chassis 240, and is supported by the base member 230 tobe pivotable around an axis 281 extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a moving direction designated by an arrow 260 a, inwhich the pickup unit 260 is movable with respect to the chassis 240, ina direction shown by an arrow 281 a or an arrow 281 b.

Further, the guide shaft 280 is pivotable with respect to the basemember 230 in a direction designated by an arrow 281 a to have the endportion 280 a move toward the chassis 240 under the condition that thechassis 240 pivots with respect to the base member 230 in a directiondesignated by an arrow 241 a toward the end portion 280 a forming partof the guide shaft 280 and the guide shaft 280 is pivotable with respectto the base member 230 in a direction designated by an arrow 281 b tohave the end portion 280 a move away from the chassis 240 under thecondition that the chassis 240 pivots with respect to the base member230 in a direction designated by an arrow 241 b away from the endportion 280 a forming part of the guide shaft 280.

The disc apparatus 200 further comprises a first motor unit for havingthe chassis 240 pivot with respect to the base member 230 and a secondmotor unit for having the guide shaft 280 pivot with respect to thechassis 240. Here, the first motor unit is independent from the secondmotor unit so that the chassis 240 pivots with respect to the basemember 230 independently of how the guide shaft 280 pivots with respectto the chassis 240.

Though it has been described in the present embodiment that the chassis140 is pivotable with respect to the base member 130, in the discapparatus according to the present invention, the operation of thechassis 140 is not limited to the pivotal movement but may be carriedout by any other operation as long as the chassis 140 is movable withrespect to the base member 130. This means that the disc apparatus 100may be replaced with, for example, a disc apparatus 300, which will bedescribed hereinlater with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The disc apparatus 300 comprises a base member 330, a chassis 340supported by the base member 330 to be movable in a direction designatedby an arrow 341 a or an arrow 341 b, a turntable 350 rotatably supportedby the chassis 340 to retain a disc 390, a pickup unit 360 movablysupported by the chassis 340 to be accessible to the disc 390, a leadscrew 370 supported by the chassis 340 to drive the pickup unit 360, anda guide unit constituted by a guide shaft 380 contactable with thepickup unit 360 to guide the pickup unit 360.

The guide shaft 380 further includes an end portion 380 a selectivelyassuming two operation positions including a contact position in whichthe end portion 380 a is brought into contact with the chassis 340 and anoncontact position in which the end portion 380 a is brought out ofcontact from the chassis 340, and is supported by the chassis 340 to bepivotable around an axis 381 extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a moving direction designated by an arrow 360 a, inwhich the pickup unit 360 is movable with respect to the chassis 340, ina direction shown by an arrow 381 a or an arrow 381 b.

Further, the guide shaft 380 is pivotable with respect to the basemember 330 in a direction designated by an arrow 381 a to have the endportion 380 a move toward the chassis 340 under the condition that thechassis 340 moves with respect to the base member 330 in a directiondesignated by an arrow 341 a toward the end portion 380 a forming partof the guide shaft 380 and the guide shaft 380 is pivotable with respectto the base member 330 in a direction designated by an arrow 381 b tohave the end portion 380 a move away from the chassis 340 under thecondition that the chassis 340 moves with respect to the base member 330in a direction designated by an arrow 341 b away from the end portion380 a forming part of the guide shaft 380.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the discapparatus according to the prevent invention is useful as a discapparatus having accommodated therein a plurality of disc shapedrecording mediums and operative to carry out at least one of operationsto record information on and reproduce information from the disc shapedrecording medium and especially appropriate for a disc changer apparatusrequired to be small in size.

1. A disc apparatus comprising: a base member; a chassis movable withrespect to said base member; a pickup unit movably supported by saidchassis to be accessible to a disc; and a guide unit contactable withsaid pickup unit to guide said pickup unit, and in which said guide unitincludes an end portion selectively assuming two operation positionsincluding a contact position in which said end portion is brought intocontact with said chassis and a noncontact position in which said endportion is brought out of contact from said chassis, said guide unitbeing pivotable around an axis extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a moving direction in which said pickup unit is movablewith respect to said chassis.
 2. A disc apparatus as set forth in claim1, in which said guide unit is held in engagement with said chassis tobe pivotable in combination with said chassis moving with respect tosaid base member.
 3. A disc apparatus comprising: a base member; achassis pivotably supported by said base member; a turntable rotatablysupported by said chassis to rotate a disc; a pickup unit movablysupported by said chassis to be accessible to said disc; a lead screwsupported by said chassis to drive said pickup unit; and a guide unitcontactable with said pickup unit to guide said pickup unit, and inwhich said guide unit includes an axis extending in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a moving direction in which said pickupunit is movable with respect to said chassis, said guide unit beingsupported by said chassis to be pivotable around said axis and movablein combination with said chassis pivoting with respect to said basemember to be held in engagement with said chassis.
 4. A disc apparatusas set forth in claim 3, which further comprises: a motor unit forhaving said chassis pivot with respect to said base member, and in whichsaid guide unit further includes a pin selectively assuming twooperation positions including a contact position in which said pin isbrought into contact with said chassis and a noncontact position inwhich said pin is brought out of contact from said chassis, said basemember includes a cam groove portion engageable with said pin, saidguide unit is pivotable with respect to said base member to have saidend portion move toward said chassis under the condition that saidchassis pivots with respect to said base member toward said end portionforming part of said guide unit, and said guide unit is pivotable withrespect to said base member to have said end portion move away from saidchassis under the condition that said chassis pivots with respect tosaid base member away from said end portion forming part of said guideunit.
 5. A disc apparatus comprising: a base member; a chassis pivotablysupported by said base member; a turntable rotatably supported by saidchassis to rotate a disc; a pickup unit movably supported by saidchassis to be accessible to said disc; a lead screw supported by saidchassis to drive said pickup unit; and a guide unit contactable withsaid pickup unit to guide said pickup unit, and in which said guide unitincludes an axis extending in a direction substantially perpendicular toa moving direction in which said pickup unit is movable with respect tosaid chassis, said guide unit being supported by said base member to bepivotable around said axis and pivotable independently from said chassispivoting with respect to said base member to be held in engagement withsaid chassis.
 6. A disc apparatus as set forth in claim 5, which furthercomprises: a motor unit for having said chassis pivot with respect tosaid base member; and a motor unit for having said guide unit pivot withrespect to said chassis, and in which said guide unit further includesan end portion selectively assuming two operation positions including acontact position in which said end portion is brought into contact withsaid chassis and a noncontact position in which said end portion isbrought out of contact from said chassis, said guide unit is pivotablewith respect to said base member to have said end portion move towardsaid chassis under the condition that said chassis pivots with respectto said base member toward said end portion forming part of said guideunit, and said guide unit is pivotable with respect to said base memberto have said end portion move away from said chassis under the conditionthat said chassis pivots with respect to said base member away from saidend portion forming part of said guide unit.
 7. A disc apparatuscomprising: a base member; a chassis movably supported by said basemember; a turntable rotatably supported by said chassis to rotate adisc; a pickup unit movably supported by said chassis to be accessibleto said disc held by said turntable; a lead screw supported by saidchassis to drive said pickup unit; and a guide unit contactable withsaid pickup unit to guide said pickup unit, and in which said guide unitincludes an axis extending in a direction substantially perpendicular toa moving direction in which said pickup unit is movable with respect tosaid chassis, said guide unit being supported by said chassis to bepivotable around said axis and movable in combination with said chassispivoting with respect to said base member to be held in engagement withsaid chassis.
 8. A disc apparatus as set forth in claim 7, which furthercomprises: a motor unit for having said chassis move with respect tosaid base member; and a motor unit for having said guide unit pivot withrespect to said chassis, and in which said guide unit further includesan end portion selectively assuming two operation positions including acontact position in which said end portion is brought into contact withsaid chassis and a noncontact position in which said end portion isbrought out of contact from said chassis, said guide unit is pivotablewith respect to said base member to have said end portion move towardsaid chassis under the condition that said chassis moves with respect tosaid base member toward said end portion forming part of said guideunit, and said guide unit is pivotable with respect to said base memberto have said end portion move away from said chassis under the conditionthat said chassis moves with respect to said base member away from saidend portion forming part of said guide unit.